With the holiday season coming up, we thought to round up some movie recommendations from our team.
Some are old classics that you might not have seen in many years, some are very new, some are for the whole family, and some decidedly less so.
We hope you enjoy the movie night!
The Imitation game
“Tribute to an extraordinary man, Alan Touring, a British mathematician and code breaker who is considered the “father of computer science” as he was highly influential in the development of the computer. Society condemned him to something inhuman even though he was a hero for his country and beyond. This movie is touching, human, and above all, based on a shocking true story.”
The Big Lebowski
“I like this 1998 film by the Coen brothers about the Dude who lives his little life and tries to preserve it against all odds. Of course, countless scenes are hilarious, and the lines have a high meme potential. The top-class cast with characters like Jeff Bridges, John Goodmann, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore but also Sam Elliott does its part. In addition, the Dude has given me a taste for White Russian!”
A Separation
“This movie focuses on an Iranian middle-class couple who separate, the disappointment and desperation suffered by their daughter, and the conflicts that arise when the husband hires a lower-class caregiver for his elderly father, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Topics from law to dedication to family, religion, and truth all come to light. This movie will leave you thinking; expect it to challenge you personally and institutionally – with a great read across recent political events.”
The Swimmers
“Two Syrian teenage sisters have always dreamt of competing in the Olympics but had to escape their country due to the civil war. Their way from Syria to Germany was long and tough. Once they reached Germany, despite all odds, one of the sisters continued to train and managed to qualify for Rio 2016 with the IOC Refugee Team. I think this biographical drama is inspiring because even if you have to flee your country, you can achieve your goals.”
Billy Elliot
“I watched this movie when it came out, and I was more or less the same age as the main character. Billy is a boy who wants to dance, in Durham County, England, in the mid-Eighties. His father and brother are miners on strike, and they want Billy to take up boxing. The movie opens up a powerful discussion around what boys are supposed to be and do, which is (unfortunately) still very relevant nowadays.”
The Shawshank Redemption
“I watched this film for the first time many years ago and was immediately fascinated. Although Andy is innocent, he is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison. Despite the unfairness of his situation, he never gives up and works year after year to escape. In the process, he demonstrates incredible discipline and an enviable will to persevere. Even when the situation seems hopeless again and again, he always finds hope to go on.”
Forrest Gump
“This movie is funny, serious, sad, and hilarious all at the same time. I like movies that convey a sweet message in a simple way, and this movie is a great example. The main character Forrest, played by Tom Hanks, makes you fall in love with his outstanding performance. The story is beautiful: one cannot plan their life; we might be working towards a target, but there will always be highs and lows, and life is about experiencing all and moving on.”
12 Angry Men
“This movie is a black-and-white classic. The plot takes place in a single room, almost in real-time. In its simplicity and by only using stellar dialogue and meticulous directing, the film exposes our cognitive biases, explores the concept of justice, and challenges the audience’s perception of right and wrong. It is a tribute to critical thinking, a concept very elusive even today, 65 years later.”
WALL-E
“WALL-E depicts a little robot left alone on earth to clean up after humans have left it behind trashed. Those former (human) inhabitants then take off to live a life full of consumption, which has turned them into overweight blobs, no longer able to stand or move on their own.Whether director Andrew Stanton meant to incorporate an environmentalist message or not, this film showcases our planet’s growing problems with pollution and waste, as well as the persistent obesity epidemic in certain countries. These key topics are two symptoms of a much more severe condition: indifference. At the very bottom of it, however, WALL-E is a moving love story.”
We thank you for your continued support.